little curly alan ball
Player Valuation: £70m
May the Good Lord be with you all .
Welcome to our little corner of the Sabbath .
Given the proximity to the Derby Game , I thought we would have a couple of weeks with this is the broad theme .Therefore , with that in mind , a name synonymous with that fixture ,…
During my time as a blue , I can only think of 3 players whom having been born in the South of England , landed at Chez Goodison and genuinely , “ Got It “ .
( Wally Fielding doesn’t count ; WELL before my time , so ,..) Graham Stuart and Tony Cottee were the others , but the first , and arguably most fervent of these was the subject of today’s Sermon , Luton’s Favourite Son ,and unquestionably as blue as me and you , Ladies and Gentlemen of the Congregation , may I introduce , Andrew Edward King .
Andy was born , as I say , in Vauxhall’s preferred London Satellite Town , on August 14 , 1956 .
He had been on Tottenham Hotspurs’ books as a boy , but never progressed to an offer , thus , he went from school to a sheet - metalworkers job , but was lucky to be offered a contract with his local side , Luton Town . He was again fortunate to break into the first team in his first season - if only for one game , as Luton were relegated .
However , Harry Haslam , then Luton Boss , was no fool and had seen potential in the kid . Indeed , to such an extent that the following season , 10 stone with his Arl Fella’s overcoat on , Kingy played 35 games scoring 9 goals . Unsurprisingly , bigger clubs began to take note , and fortunately for us , Billy Bingham represented one of them .
1975/76 had seen us fall into 11th place , having missed out on the Title the previous season only due to our own failings . Thus , in March 1976 , Bingham offered Luton £35,000 - with a further £25,000 after 50 appearances , for the player . The deal was accepted , and Andy King became an Everton signing .
Despite the season being almost at its end , the Everton Boss introduced him almost at once , making his debut in a 3-1 win against Middlesborough .He was then awesome on the quagmire that was Derby County’s Baseball Ground the following Wednesday , scoring 2 in a 3-1 win . I remember me Dad giving me stick saying , “ He can’t be your favourite player . He’s only played 2 games ! …” on the way home .
He finished his first , brief season as a blue , with figures of played 3 , scored 2 . Not a bad start , in fairness . The team , alas , being the epitome of mediocrity in the league finishing in 9th position .
1976/77 began with a smashing 4-1 victory at Q.P.R. We were attacking in ethos , but were still a couple of players away from the finished article . Our league campaign stuttered along , two steps forward , one step back . Nevertheless , the young kid from Darn Sarf was playing in a supportive role to Bob Latchford ,
and settling in , lovely-jubbly , as they say . By Christmas , in a side not pulling up any trees he’d scored 10 goals from midfield , in his first real go at the top flight .
Bingham , meanwhile , saw we had potential , but were still lacking in too many areas . After 2 heavy defeats , 4-1 , at the Barcodes , and 3-0 at the Hawthorns , he duly made a double swoop in November
1977 , for Bruce Rioch from Derby County , and Duncan McKenzie from Anderlecht - having been bought by Brian Clough during his brief sojourn at Leeds United . Duncan did not survive the change of management , and was shipped out to Belgium .
Despite losing 4-2 on their debut’s , the pair did indeed give us a shot in the arm , particularly in the Cups - though Rioch was Cup-Tied in the League Cup , the signings lifted the Club in general .
Unfortunately for Bingham , we were drawn against Stoke City in the F.A. Cup 3rd round at home . We won 2-0 , with McKenzie giving a virtuoso performance - perhaps his greatest ever at Goodison Park . I duly went off on holiday the day after .
14 days later , I returned from Skiing to discover that John Moores had not only sacked Bingham in the wake of our best home performance in an age , but had installed Birkenshaw as care-taker , and was about to appoint the universally under-whelming Gordon Lee , from Newcastle .
Lee duly came in , and in truth , with Bingham’s side , despite too many draws in the Championship , won a League Cup Semi Final , over 2 legs , though the side for the first leg was chosen by Birkenshaw - against Bolton Wanderers , and for the first time in just under a decade we were on our way to Wem-ber-ley .
We also beat Derby County in a quarter final of the F.A. Cup , Kingy scoring one in our 2-0 win . Therefore we found ourselves in the final of one competition , and a date to meet the all-conquering RS at Maine Road , Manchester , in the semi final of the other .
For a young blue - still at School , that season will live with me forever . A 3-0 victory at Old Trafford - Kingy getting 2 and standing on the bars at the Scoreboard End taking the piss ; Bolton Wanderers in the Semi , Hillsborough , then Maine Road in the rain . Andy King , unfortunately , was injured and missed the latter game , as did Bob Latchford , basically 2 of our 3 talismen missing .
Nevertheless , despite going a goal down due to Lawson keeping goal from the edge of his area , we came back fighting . In an absolute torrent , McKenzie literally tormented the Anfield Iron , Tommy “ Don’t Tell The Social You Saw Me Running a Marathon ,..” Smith , as we came back to equalise , and with them having scored again , Rioch sneaked one with not much time left .
Hamilton , our substitute , in yet another pressing Everton move scored , what appeared to be a perfectly fair goal off his hip , with only minutes left , to win it for us , 3-2 . Evertonians in the Kippax , including a 13 year old , L.C.A.B. , went bananas .
Alas , as we were still celebrating , Clive Thomas , a Welsh referee whom made Jose Mourinho seem like he’s got self esteem issues ,and whom had a history of such , “ Look at me !!! “ , gestures , pedantically disallowed the goal , ignoring the pleas of all in blue . Over the next 48 hours he gave 3 separate reasons as to his motives for cancelling out the score . ( Graham Poll , anyone ??? ) He finally settled on a ,“transgression “ … and the most hated figure in the history of Everton Football Club was born .
Incidentally , anyone looking at that goal , watch the response of Clemence , Neal and Smith . No-one complains . Not one of them . And they would’ve complained , believe me .
We all came back the following Wednesday , with Kingy this time as substitute . However , in truth , we all knew that we’d missed our chance , and were duly despatched 3-0 , as normal service was resumed .
Thus , our dream of Silverware that year was extinguished , after having been beaten , yet again cruelly , in the last minute of extra time , in the 2nd replay of the League Cup Final , to Aston Villa , 3-2 at Old Trafford .
Andy King netted 12 times that year - Gordon Lee played a more rigid formation than Bingham , and Kingy’s goal return suffered in the second half of the season ; though was generally our Star Performer . Nonetheless , the season had done us , as a Football Club , the world of good .
We believed again . Everton were back .
1977-78 was the “ Year of the Curly Perm “ , at Goodison Park . They were everywhere - and on the subject of sartorial elegance , if you thought Warzycha‘s Caterpillar was snide , check Kingy‘s Muzzy , circa 1978 . It makes Bob The Pole‘s look like a Mambo with a Mink Coat on ..
The season’s opener , and , oh , so Everton , was met by glorious sunshine , a new goalkeeper in George Wood , a £300,000 centre forward with a curly perm to die for - Mickey Walsh , and a winger from Q.P.R. who despite getting kicked every week , played with his socks rolled down , Dave Thomas .
We had the wave of tangible optimism from last year , plus the new signings ,… Maybe we could even challenge ,…
Brian Clough’s newly promoted Nottingham Forest duly turned up and gave us a footballing lesson . They scored 3 - it could have been 13 . Fortunately , we improved , and along the way played some wonderfully entertaining football . We also had some landmark games that year which still live long in the memory .
Both Cups were let downs , but our performance in the first division was excellent . The side , with Kingy at his most influential , scored loads of goals . The , Latchford - Thomas axis was another smash hit .
We put 6 past Coventry in the Autumn , 5 past Bristol , beat Aston Villa 4-1 in the cup , and 1-0 in the league , 2 weeks running . There was a 4-4 versus the Barcodes , loads of 3’s and not to mention a Boxing Day hiding from the Mancs , 6-2 - Macari’s overhead kick ,…shudders ,…
We went into the last four games of the season , in second place - unfortunately , Forest being just out of sight , and despite slamming another 6 past Chelsea on the final day , ended up a highly creditable 3rd .
History , of course remembers this year as that of Bob Latchford’s 30 goals , and they were indeed magnificent , but that whole side was exciting . Attacking in outlook , despite Lee’s philosophy , there were goals all over the team . With my hand on my heart , I can say I enjoyed going the match that year , at Goodison in particular , as any I have , before or since . We had options all over the park , could mix it if we had to , but had proper quality as well . Latchford , Dobson , Thomas , and , for me , Kingy ., whom , incidentally , told everyone who would listen of his love or Everton Football Club - Lyons was his best mate , so he’d been well , “ Schooled “ , in the ways of the ‘ton .
During this time , he was called up for England Full Squad on 2 occasions , but either had to withdraw through injury , or was overlooked for players , in truth , not as good as him . He looked best in a free role , but this counted against him as at the time , that sort of player was frowned upon , from an England perspective . He could dribble , was brave , could head a ball when necessary , always popped up with a goal , never shirked a tackle and would run , with those arms out like a baby chicken’s wings , all day . He should have earned at least one cap .
1978/79 dawned , once again , with a sense of optimism to Evertonians . Granted , the other firm had won the European Cup again , but what else was new ?
We had a side , or the beginnings of one , and would concentrate on ourselves .
It all began in the sweltering heat of an August day on the Kings Road - the High Street Ken’ , game . In all yellow , we dominated the game and eventually won it with a shot from the edge of the box from one , Andy King . It would be a sign of things to come .
We beat Derby County at home , 3 days later - he scored again , beat Arsenal on the Saturday . Wimbledon came in the League Cup and were spanked for 8 , and we were off and running . Indeed , we did not lose a game , of any description , until November 1st , going down in Czechoslovakia , 1-0 to Dukla Prague , and were unluckily eliminated from the Eufa Cup on away goals - again .
On October 28 , 1978 , we met Liverpool in the season’s first league derby . They of course , were reigning European Cup holders , and we hadn’t beaten them at home in 7 years . Step forward , Andrew Edward King .
The game had been the usual struggle , few chances , but those there were , were missed ; a header by Latchford in the Gwladys Street , I recall . A short time into the second half , a ball was launched from our left back , Pejic , in the direction of the Park End goal . Martin Dobson , with RS on his back , nods it down into the “ D “ of the area . My young mate from Luton , adjusts himself , takes a step to his right then bangs one right into the top left hand corner of Clemence’s goal . Cue scenes of delirium not seen at Goodison , even with the 30 goals , in many a long year . The side hung on , despite , incredibly , a disallowed goal by Kopite Tawt , David Johnson , thus , procuring our first victory against them , of any sort , but certainly at home in the league for 7 excruciating years . Incidentally , listen to his post-match , or even subsequent interviews on the subject , and Southerner that he was , says , “ It was for the fans ,..” He “ Got It “ , alright .
As I said , we began to believe , and , Andy was our King .
Everton maintained a decent lick in the Championship , but too many away defeats, as the heavy pitches that nasty winter cost a free-flowing side , in the second half of the campaign a real shot at the Title - though we did gain a creditable 1-1 draw at Anfield , with Kingy scoring in the Kop end . He also scored his only league hat-trick for Everton , in the 4-1 home victory over Bristol City , as he finished his best season in blue with 16 goals in all competitions .
We eventually finished 4th , but 17 points behind the RS .
The next year was the Almighty reminding us that we were , in fact , Everton , and thus should never , ever get too far ahead of ourselves . Lee had by now virtually dismantled Bingham’s side , Rioch and McKenzie were no more . Indeed , he himself bought , then sold Mickey Walsh within a year . He did the same , alas , to Colin Todd . Kidd and Eastoe had been drafted in during the summer , and it kind of felt like ,
“ Getting to know you “ , time .
We began , of course , with the requisite home defeat on the opening day . Norwich City despatching us , 4-2 . Indeed , our league campaign never really got off the ground . Big Bob was out until mid-October . We lost at the first attempt in both Eufa - Feyenoord , and League Cup - Grimsby , away , though we did get another draw at the RS , 2-2 , with Kingy getting a further Kop end goal , as it all kicked off .
Our only saving grace proving to be the F.A. Cup , where with a few fortunate home draws , Aldershot and Wrexham , we found ourselves in a Semi-Final , meeting West Ham at Villa Park .
Unfortunately , Kidd scored but then got sent off , which cost us a replay , which we eventually lost , due to a , Lampard - Snr. , extra-time winner at Elland Road . Therefore , our season fizzled out in the major cup , having long-since done so in the league . We finished 19th .
Andy King , having originally flourished under Gordon Lee was now finding it more difficult . Fair do’s , the side was not as good as the one he enjoyed his best days in , and he always operated best when allowed to drift . He was still picked for the majority of the season - 29 games , but the Anfield goal aside , this was not the real Kingy . He ended up with 9 league goals , eleven in all , but was not having the same impact on games .
Unsurprisingly , Andy King left his beloved Everton at the start of the following season , as Lee , knowing another roll of the dice was needed , accepted a £450,000 bid from Tommy Doherty at Q.P.R. in September 1980 . I , for one , was gutted .
He made his debut at Hillsborough , Sheffield Wednesday , and the following Tueesday , became the first player to score on the plastic pitch , as Q.P.R. lost 2-1 to Luton Town .Unfortunately for Kingy , The Doc was not long for the Hot Seat at Loftus Road , and was duly replaced by Terry Venables , whom didn’t really fancy Andy King . Nevertheless , he played 30 games , scoring 9 goals for the hoops ., before
leaving , this time to the Hawthorns , as they paid £400,000 for Andy as a direct replacement for the departing Bryan Robson . He wasn’t happy there , though , playing 25 games , scoring 4 goals . He was therefore beyond delighted when the new Everton manager , Howard Kendall , offered Peter Eastoe in a swap deal with King , which West Brom’ accepted . Kingy was on his way home .
HK had a nucleus of boss kids , Sharp , Radcliffe , McMahon , Richardson , etc , but wanted a bit of experience to compliment them . Thus , Andy , and that Kopite Tawt , David Johnson were brought back , and Terry Curran signed to bolster the ranks . The young side struggled to establish itself , taking a hiding off the RS at home , 5-0 , indeed Kendall himself turning out over the Christmas period with a particularly gruesome injury list . However , in a decent cup run , the baby blues were unluckily beaten , in the 5th round of the F.A. Cup , in the 94th minute at Old Trafford to the eventual winners - and with the largest Everton away mob that I have ever seen .- however , Andy King’s season was ended at Roker Park a week earlier by a knee- high horror tackle by the otherwise anonymous Ian Munroe Thus , the campaign tailed off , but Kingy played his part . Appearing in 29 games and scoring 9 goals , he was revelling in his return .
1983-84 for Everton FC was one of those seasons which will forever baffle any football analyst . We begin with - yet another ; tonking at home , this time , Spurs , 4-1 . Again , there was no consistency . We could all see that we were getting there . Heath and Sharp were beginning to gel . The Bin Man was settling down in goal , Ratters and Gary Stevens looked players , but we just couldn’t grasp the consistency thing . So bad did it get , that once more , over the festivities , there were prolonged boos , and banners saying , “ Kendall Out !!! “ - I wonder what happened to those fellas ??? We needed to pull something out of the bag .
Well , Everton being Everton , we did precisely that , Adrian Heath copping on to Kevin Brock’s intended back pass at Oxford allowing us to get them back to Goodison and beat them . Before we knew it , we were facing Aston Villa , whom we owed one in this competition , in the Semi Final over two legs . Kevin Richardson , arm in plaster , played blinders in both games , and , we were Wembley bound , amazingly , to face our Crimson Cousins , in the first ever Merseyside Final of any sort .
Andy King was to receive the heaviest blow of his career , as Kendall dropped him for the showpiece . He was beyond devastated . Though , after the game was drawn , 0-0 , despite Handball Hansen ; he was selected to be sub’ for the replay at Maine Road , in which he got on , second half , as we went down , 1-0 .
That wasn’t to be it yet , though . In a replica of the last time we reached a League Cup Final , we were also in the Semi Final of the other knockout competition . This time , however , we were victorious , overcoming Southampton , 1-0 , a, e, t, , and were thus , on our way to Wembley , again .
Andy had lost his place for 8 or so games after that Maine Road replay , eventually earning a shirt for the last 4 league games .
Nevertheless , his disappointment at missing the Milk Cup Final was nothing compared to his devastation upon being told by HK that he wouldn’t be required for Watford . He was crushed . This would be his only chance at an F.A. Cup Final at the club he genuinely loved . I have subsequently seen footage of him on the day , on the team bus , with , to use the vernacular , “ A face like a smacked arse ,..”
Indeed , Kendall himself lists that as the hardest conversation he ever had with a player whilst Everton manager . That is how gutted this lad was .
As history will note , we were victorious , and with Howard showing faith in the kids , we prospered . For Andy King , that would be it at Everton . He knew it , and so did we . He finished his Everton career with 68 goals in 247 games , during which he gave his all for this great club in each and every one .
He departed Goodison Park , on my 21st birthday , in July 1984 , for the cosmopolitan Dutch fields of Cambuur Leeuwarden - whom , in truth , I had neither heard of then , nor now ; staying only until January , when Wolves came knocking . After 28 games and 10 goals , he left in December , to join his hometown team , Luton , but played only 3 times , before moving once more , to Aldershot where he remained for the season .
Andy then embarked upon a coaching / managerial career which he continues to this day . Encompassing a spell in Ireland , where he left within a short time , he was then appointed manager of Mansfield Town , in August 1993 . In 1994-95 he led them to the play-off Semi Final , losing to Chesterfield .
In 2000 , he joined former blue-nose Colin Todd as Assistant Manager at Swindon Town . When Toddy left for Derby County , in November that year , Andy became Manager proper . Despite keeping them up , Kingy was replaced by former RS Roy Evans , in June 2001 . Nevertheless , with Evans not lasting , was re-appointed in December ‘01 .
He took the side to a Semi Final Play off , losing to Brighton , on penalties in 2003/04 .
After leaving Swindon , he actually did some scouting for his beloved Everton , before taking up a full time role at Plymouth , and is now Chief Scout at Colchester United .
I would suggest that during both periods he represented Everton Football Club , that perhaps only Mick Lyons took greater pride in actually wearing a Blue Jersey . Certainly none enjoyed scoring against the RS more than Kingy , which he did 3 times . He knew what it meant to us .
Andrew Edward King , born in Luton , Bedfordshire , unquestionably , “ Got It “ , when it came to all things Evertonia . Moreover , in a time largely remembered for under-achievement , he was a genuine hero to me , and played in a side that gave me some of my finest ever memories of going the match . He remains , without doubt , one of ours .
Therefore , this Domingo , thank the Almighty for providing Andy King , Evertonian , First Class .
Amen .
May The Good Lord be with you all .
Look after your peoples .
Peace out .
The ( Catholic ) Reverend L.C.A.B.
Welcome to our little corner of the Sabbath .
Given the proximity to the Derby Game , I thought we would have a couple of weeks with this is the broad theme .Therefore , with that in mind , a name synonymous with that fixture ,…
During my time as a blue , I can only think of 3 players whom having been born in the South of England , landed at Chez Goodison and genuinely , “ Got It “ .
( Wally Fielding doesn’t count ; WELL before my time , so ,..) Graham Stuart and Tony Cottee were the others , but the first , and arguably most fervent of these was the subject of today’s Sermon , Luton’s Favourite Son ,and unquestionably as blue as me and you , Ladies and Gentlemen of the Congregation , may I introduce , Andrew Edward King .
Andy was born , as I say , in Vauxhall’s preferred London Satellite Town , on August 14 , 1956 .
He had been on Tottenham Hotspurs’ books as a boy , but never progressed to an offer , thus , he went from school to a sheet - metalworkers job , but was lucky to be offered a contract with his local side , Luton Town . He was again fortunate to break into the first team in his first season - if only for one game , as Luton were relegated .
However , Harry Haslam , then Luton Boss , was no fool and had seen potential in the kid . Indeed , to such an extent that the following season , 10 stone with his Arl Fella’s overcoat on , Kingy played 35 games scoring 9 goals . Unsurprisingly , bigger clubs began to take note , and fortunately for us , Billy Bingham represented one of them .
1975/76 had seen us fall into 11th place , having missed out on the Title the previous season only due to our own failings . Thus , in March 1976 , Bingham offered Luton £35,000 - with a further £25,000 after 50 appearances , for the player . The deal was accepted , and Andy King became an Everton signing .
Despite the season being almost at its end , the Everton Boss introduced him almost at once , making his debut in a 3-1 win against Middlesborough .He was then awesome on the quagmire that was Derby County’s Baseball Ground the following Wednesday , scoring 2 in a 3-1 win . I remember me Dad giving me stick saying , “ He can’t be your favourite player . He’s only played 2 games ! …” on the way home .
He finished his first , brief season as a blue , with figures of played 3 , scored 2 . Not a bad start , in fairness . The team , alas , being the epitome of mediocrity in the league finishing in 9th position .
1976/77 began with a smashing 4-1 victory at Q.P.R. We were attacking in ethos , but were still a couple of players away from the finished article . Our league campaign stuttered along , two steps forward , one step back . Nevertheless , the young kid from Darn Sarf was playing in a supportive role to Bob Latchford ,
and settling in , lovely-jubbly , as they say . By Christmas , in a side not pulling up any trees he’d scored 10 goals from midfield , in his first real go at the top flight .
Bingham , meanwhile , saw we had potential , but were still lacking in too many areas . After 2 heavy defeats , 4-1 , at the Barcodes , and 3-0 at the Hawthorns , he duly made a double swoop in November
1977 , for Bruce Rioch from Derby County , and Duncan McKenzie from Anderlecht - having been bought by Brian Clough during his brief sojourn at Leeds United . Duncan did not survive the change of management , and was shipped out to Belgium .
Despite losing 4-2 on their debut’s , the pair did indeed give us a shot in the arm , particularly in the Cups - though Rioch was Cup-Tied in the League Cup , the signings lifted the Club in general .
Unfortunately for Bingham , we were drawn against Stoke City in the F.A. Cup 3rd round at home . We won 2-0 , with McKenzie giving a virtuoso performance - perhaps his greatest ever at Goodison Park . I duly went off on holiday the day after .
14 days later , I returned from Skiing to discover that John Moores had not only sacked Bingham in the wake of our best home performance in an age , but had installed Birkenshaw as care-taker , and was about to appoint the universally under-whelming Gordon Lee , from Newcastle .
Lee duly came in , and in truth , with Bingham’s side , despite too many draws in the Championship , won a League Cup Semi Final , over 2 legs , though the side for the first leg was chosen by Birkenshaw - against Bolton Wanderers , and for the first time in just under a decade we were on our way to Wem-ber-ley .
We also beat Derby County in a quarter final of the F.A. Cup , Kingy scoring one in our 2-0 win . Therefore we found ourselves in the final of one competition , and a date to meet the all-conquering RS at Maine Road , Manchester , in the semi final of the other .
For a young blue - still at School , that season will live with me forever . A 3-0 victory at Old Trafford - Kingy getting 2 and standing on the bars at the Scoreboard End taking the piss ; Bolton Wanderers in the Semi , Hillsborough , then Maine Road in the rain . Andy King , unfortunately , was injured and missed the latter game , as did Bob Latchford , basically 2 of our 3 talismen missing .
Nevertheless , despite going a goal down due to Lawson keeping goal from the edge of his area , we came back fighting . In an absolute torrent , McKenzie literally tormented the Anfield Iron , Tommy “ Don’t Tell The Social You Saw Me Running a Marathon ,..” Smith , as we came back to equalise , and with them having scored again , Rioch sneaked one with not much time left .
Hamilton , our substitute , in yet another pressing Everton move scored , what appeared to be a perfectly fair goal off his hip , with only minutes left , to win it for us , 3-2 . Evertonians in the Kippax , including a 13 year old , L.C.A.B. , went bananas .
Alas , as we were still celebrating , Clive Thomas , a Welsh referee whom made Jose Mourinho seem like he’s got self esteem issues ,and whom had a history of such , “ Look at me !!! “ , gestures , pedantically disallowed the goal , ignoring the pleas of all in blue . Over the next 48 hours he gave 3 separate reasons as to his motives for cancelling out the score . ( Graham Poll , anyone ??? ) He finally settled on a ,“transgression “ … and the most hated figure in the history of Everton Football Club was born .
Incidentally , anyone looking at that goal , watch the response of Clemence , Neal and Smith . No-one complains . Not one of them . And they would’ve complained , believe me .
We all came back the following Wednesday , with Kingy this time as substitute . However , in truth , we all knew that we’d missed our chance , and were duly despatched 3-0 , as normal service was resumed .
Thus , our dream of Silverware that year was extinguished , after having been beaten , yet again cruelly , in the last minute of extra time , in the 2nd replay of the League Cup Final , to Aston Villa , 3-2 at Old Trafford .
Andy King netted 12 times that year - Gordon Lee played a more rigid formation than Bingham , and Kingy’s goal return suffered in the second half of the season ; though was generally our Star Performer . Nonetheless , the season had done us , as a Football Club , the world of good .
We believed again . Everton were back .
1977-78 was the “ Year of the Curly Perm “ , at Goodison Park . They were everywhere - and on the subject of sartorial elegance , if you thought Warzycha‘s Caterpillar was snide , check Kingy‘s Muzzy , circa 1978 . It makes Bob The Pole‘s look like a Mambo with a Mink Coat on ..
The season’s opener , and , oh , so Everton , was met by glorious sunshine , a new goalkeeper in George Wood , a £300,000 centre forward with a curly perm to die for - Mickey Walsh , and a winger from Q.P.R. who despite getting kicked every week , played with his socks rolled down , Dave Thomas .
We had the wave of tangible optimism from last year , plus the new signings ,… Maybe we could even challenge ,…
Brian Clough’s newly promoted Nottingham Forest duly turned up and gave us a footballing lesson . They scored 3 - it could have been 13 . Fortunately , we improved , and along the way played some wonderfully entertaining football . We also had some landmark games that year which still live long in the memory .
Both Cups were let downs , but our performance in the first division was excellent . The side , with Kingy at his most influential , scored loads of goals . The , Latchford - Thomas axis was another smash hit .
We put 6 past Coventry in the Autumn , 5 past Bristol , beat Aston Villa 4-1 in the cup , and 1-0 in the league , 2 weeks running . There was a 4-4 versus the Barcodes , loads of 3’s and not to mention a Boxing Day hiding from the Mancs , 6-2 - Macari’s overhead kick ,…shudders ,…
We went into the last four games of the season , in second place - unfortunately , Forest being just out of sight , and despite slamming another 6 past Chelsea on the final day , ended up a highly creditable 3rd .
History , of course remembers this year as that of Bob Latchford’s 30 goals , and they were indeed magnificent , but that whole side was exciting . Attacking in outlook , despite Lee’s philosophy , there were goals all over the team . With my hand on my heart , I can say I enjoyed going the match that year , at Goodison in particular , as any I have , before or since . We had options all over the park , could mix it if we had to , but had proper quality as well . Latchford , Dobson , Thomas , and , for me , Kingy ., whom , incidentally , told everyone who would listen of his love or Everton Football Club - Lyons was his best mate , so he’d been well , “ Schooled “ , in the ways of the ‘ton .
During this time , he was called up for England Full Squad on 2 occasions , but either had to withdraw through injury , or was overlooked for players , in truth , not as good as him . He looked best in a free role , but this counted against him as at the time , that sort of player was frowned upon , from an England perspective . He could dribble , was brave , could head a ball when necessary , always popped up with a goal , never shirked a tackle and would run , with those arms out like a baby chicken’s wings , all day . He should have earned at least one cap .
1978/79 dawned , once again , with a sense of optimism to Evertonians . Granted , the other firm had won the European Cup again , but what else was new ?
We had a side , or the beginnings of one , and would concentrate on ourselves .
It all began in the sweltering heat of an August day on the Kings Road - the High Street Ken’ , game . In all yellow , we dominated the game and eventually won it with a shot from the edge of the box from one , Andy King . It would be a sign of things to come .
We beat Derby County at home , 3 days later - he scored again , beat Arsenal on the Saturday . Wimbledon came in the League Cup and were spanked for 8 , and we were off and running . Indeed , we did not lose a game , of any description , until November 1st , going down in Czechoslovakia , 1-0 to Dukla Prague , and were unluckily eliminated from the Eufa Cup on away goals - again .
On October 28 , 1978 , we met Liverpool in the season’s first league derby . They of course , were reigning European Cup holders , and we hadn’t beaten them at home in 7 years . Step forward , Andrew Edward King .
The game had been the usual struggle , few chances , but those there were , were missed ; a header by Latchford in the Gwladys Street , I recall . A short time into the second half , a ball was launched from our left back , Pejic , in the direction of the Park End goal . Martin Dobson , with RS on his back , nods it down into the “ D “ of the area . My young mate from Luton , adjusts himself , takes a step to his right then bangs one right into the top left hand corner of Clemence’s goal . Cue scenes of delirium not seen at Goodison , even with the 30 goals , in many a long year . The side hung on , despite , incredibly , a disallowed goal by Kopite Tawt , David Johnson , thus , procuring our first victory against them , of any sort , but certainly at home in the league for 7 excruciating years . Incidentally , listen to his post-match , or even subsequent interviews on the subject , and Southerner that he was , says , “ It was for the fans ,..” He “ Got It “ , alright .
As I said , we began to believe , and , Andy was our King .
Everton maintained a decent lick in the Championship , but too many away defeats, as the heavy pitches that nasty winter cost a free-flowing side , in the second half of the campaign a real shot at the Title - though we did gain a creditable 1-1 draw at Anfield , with Kingy scoring in the Kop end . He also scored his only league hat-trick for Everton , in the 4-1 home victory over Bristol City , as he finished his best season in blue with 16 goals in all competitions .
We eventually finished 4th , but 17 points behind the RS .
The next year was the Almighty reminding us that we were , in fact , Everton , and thus should never , ever get too far ahead of ourselves . Lee had by now virtually dismantled Bingham’s side , Rioch and McKenzie were no more . Indeed , he himself bought , then sold Mickey Walsh within a year . He did the same , alas , to Colin Todd . Kidd and Eastoe had been drafted in during the summer , and it kind of felt like ,
“ Getting to know you “ , time .
We began , of course , with the requisite home defeat on the opening day . Norwich City despatching us , 4-2 . Indeed , our league campaign never really got off the ground . Big Bob was out until mid-October . We lost at the first attempt in both Eufa - Feyenoord , and League Cup - Grimsby , away , though we did get another draw at the RS , 2-2 , with Kingy getting a further Kop end goal , as it all kicked off .
Our only saving grace proving to be the F.A. Cup , where with a few fortunate home draws , Aldershot and Wrexham , we found ourselves in a Semi-Final , meeting West Ham at Villa Park .
Unfortunately , Kidd scored but then got sent off , which cost us a replay , which we eventually lost , due to a , Lampard - Snr. , extra-time winner at Elland Road . Therefore , our season fizzled out in the major cup , having long-since done so in the league . We finished 19th .
Andy King , having originally flourished under Gordon Lee was now finding it more difficult . Fair do’s , the side was not as good as the one he enjoyed his best days in , and he always operated best when allowed to drift . He was still picked for the majority of the season - 29 games , but the Anfield goal aside , this was not the real Kingy . He ended up with 9 league goals , eleven in all , but was not having the same impact on games .
Unsurprisingly , Andy King left his beloved Everton at the start of the following season , as Lee , knowing another roll of the dice was needed , accepted a £450,000 bid from Tommy Doherty at Q.P.R. in September 1980 . I , for one , was gutted .
He made his debut at Hillsborough , Sheffield Wednesday , and the following Tueesday , became the first player to score on the plastic pitch , as Q.P.R. lost 2-1 to Luton Town .Unfortunately for Kingy , The Doc was not long for the Hot Seat at Loftus Road , and was duly replaced by Terry Venables , whom didn’t really fancy Andy King . Nevertheless , he played 30 games , scoring 9 goals for the hoops ., before
leaving , this time to the Hawthorns , as they paid £400,000 for Andy as a direct replacement for the departing Bryan Robson . He wasn’t happy there , though , playing 25 games , scoring 4 goals . He was therefore beyond delighted when the new Everton manager , Howard Kendall , offered Peter Eastoe in a swap deal with King , which West Brom’ accepted . Kingy was on his way home .
HK had a nucleus of boss kids , Sharp , Radcliffe , McMahon , Richardson , etc , but wanted a bit of experience to compliment them . Thus , Andy , and that Kopite Tawt , David Johnson were brought back , and Terry Curran signed to bolster the ranks . The young side struggled to establish itself , taking a hiding off the RS at home , 5-0 , indeed Kendall himself turning out over the Christmas period with a particularly gruesome injury list . However , in a decent cup run , the baby blues were unluckily beaten , in the 5th round of the F.A. Cup , in the 94th minute at Old Trafford to the eventual winners - and with the largest Everton away mob that I have ever seen .- however , Andy King’s season was ended at Roker Park a week earlier by a knee- high horror tackle by the otherwise anonymous Ian Munroe Thus , the campaign tailed off , but Kingy played his part . Appearing in 29 games and scoring 9 goals , he was revelling in his return .
1983-84 for Everton FC was one of those seasons which will forever baffle any football analyst . We begin with - yet another ; tonking at home , this time , Spurs , 4-1 . Again , there was no consistency . We could all see that we were getting there . Heath and Sharp were beginning to gel . The Bin Man was settling down in goal , Ratters and Gary Stevens looked players , but we just couldn’t grasp the consistency thing . So bad did it get , that once more , over the festivities , there were prolonged boos , and banners saying , “ Kendall Out !!! “ - I wonder what happened to those fellas ??? We needed to pull something out of the bag .
Well , Everton being Everton , we did precisely that , Adrian Heath copping on to Kevin Brock’s intended back pass at Oxford allowing us to get them back to Goodison and beat them . Before we knew it , we were facing Aston Villa , whom we owed one in this competition , in the Semi Final over two legs . Kevin Richardson , arm in plaster , played blinders in both games , and , we were Wembley bound , amazingly , to face our Crimson Cousins , in the first ever Merseyside Final of any sort .
Andy King was to receive the heaviest blow of his career , as Kendall dropped him for the showpiece . He was beyond devastated . Though , after the game was drawn , 0-0 , despite Handball Hansen ; he was selected to be sub’ for the replay at Maine Road , in which he got on , second half , as we went down , 1-0 .
That wasn’t to be it yet , though . In a replica of the last time we reached a League Cup Final , we were also in the Semi Final of the other knockout competition . This time , however , we were victorious , overcoming Southampton , 1-0 , a, e, t, , and were thus , on our way to Wembley , again .
Andy had lost his place for 8 or so games after that Maine Road replay , eventually earning a shirt for the last 4 league games .
Nevertheless , his disappointment at missing the Milk Cup Final was nothing compared to his devastation upon being told by HK that he wouldn’t be required for Watford . He was crushed . This would be his only chance at an F.A. Cup Final at the club he genuinely loved . I have subsequently seen footage of him on the day , on the team bus , with , to use the vernacular , “ A face like a smacked arse ,..”
Indeed , Kendall himself lists that as the hardest conversation he ever had with a player whilst Everton manager . That is how gutted this lad was .
As history will note , we were victorious , and with Howard showing faith in the kids , we prospered . For Andy King , that would be it at Everton . He knew it , and so did we . He finished his Everton career with 68 goals in 247 games , during which he gave his all for this great club in each and every one .
He departed Goodison Park , on my 21st birthday , in July 1984 , for the cosmopolitan Dutch fields of Cambuur Leeuwarden - whom , in truth , I had neither heard of then , nor now ; staying only until January , when Wolves came knocking . After 28 games and 10 goals , he left in December , to join his hometown team , Luton , but played only 3 times , before moving once more , to Aldershot where he remained for the season .
Andy then embarked upon a coaching / managerial career which he continues to this day . Encompassing a spell in Ireland , where he left within a short time , he was then appointed manager of Mansfield Town , in August 1993 . In 1994-95 he led them to the play-off Semi Final , losing to Chesterfield .
In 2000 , he joined former blue-nose Colin Todd as Assistant Manager at Swindon Town . When Toddy left for Derby County , in November that year , Andy became Manager proper . Despite keeping them up , Kingy was replaced by former RS Roy Evans , in June 2001 . Nevertheless , with Evans not lasting , was re-appointed in December ‘01 .
He took the side to a Semi Final Play off , losing to Brighton , on penalties in 2003/04 .
After leaving Swindon , he actually did some scouting for his beloved Everton , before taking up a full time role at Plymouth , and is now Chief Scout at Colchester United .
I would suggest that during both periods he represented Everton Football Club , that perhaps only Mick Lyons took greater pride in actually wearing a Blue Jersey . Certainly none enjoyed scoring against the RS more than Kingy , which he did 3 times . He knew what it meant to us .
Andrew Edward King , born in Luton , Bedfordshire , unquestionably , “ Got It “ , when it came to all things Evertonia . Moreover , in a time largely remembered for under-achievement , he was a genuine hero to me , and played in a side that gave me some of my finest ever memories of going the match . He remains , without doubt , one of ours .
Therefore , this Domingo , thank the Almighty for providing Andy King , Evertonian , First Class .
Amen .
May The Good Lord be with you all .
Look after your peoples .
Peace out .
The ( Catholic ) Reverend L.C.A.B.
